A Refugees International mission headed by RI President and CEO Ken Bacon will shortly depart for Sudan, Kenya, and Chad to focus on Sudanese refugees and displaced persons.  Senior Advocate Larry Thompson and Advocate Fidele Lumeya will accompany Ken.  

A decades long civil war in Sudan between the government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) has caused countless deaths among non-combatants as well as the displacment of four million people within Sudan and 500,000 Sudanese who have fled to neighboring countries.  A positive sign is that during the last several months the government and the SPLA have been negotiating a peace agreement, which might make it possible for many of the displaced persons and refugees to return to their homes.  Nevertheless, post-conflict reconstruction will be a huge challenge in this war-torn country.

Moreover, a new conflict has now broken out between the government and rebel groups in Darfur province.  Government security forces and militia groups have displaced 700,000 people and more than 100,000 refugees have sought safety in neighboring Chad.  This is a rapidly worsening humanitarian crisis as resources to help the displaced and refugees are totally inadequate.  Access is difficult because of the ongoing conflict.

The RI mission will look into the immediate humanitarian needs of Sudanese refugees and displaced persons.  We will also look at the prospects for displaced persons and refugees to return voluntarily to their homes and the preparations being made to help them return.  In addition to meeting with refugees and displaced persons, RI will discuss humanitarian problems and issues with representatives of governments, UN agencies, and non-governmental aid organizations.

This will be Refugee International’s first visit to Sudan, although we have long worked with Sudanese refugees in Kenya and Uganda.